Pump



Nov. 1,7, 1931. c. D. STEPHENS PUMP Filed Feb. 27,. 1931 Patented Nov. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES D. STEPHENS, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, ASSIGIN'OR4 TO STEPHENS PUMP 00H- PANY, F DOVER, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE PUMP Application med February 2'?, 1931. Serial No. 518,697.

This invention relates to pumps designed.

for pumping abrasive and corrosive fluids, of the general type covered by my pending applications for Letters Patent of the United States, serial No. 363,213,111ed May 15, 1929 ;l Serial No. 421,651, tiled January 18, 1930; and Serial No. 478,878, filed August 30, 1930.

This type of pump is Aparticularly adapted l for use as a mud or slush pump in deep well The present invention has for its principal' objects the provision of a new and improved expansible member adapted to withstand the wearing action of the pumped iuid; and new and improved means to combine the-same with the conventional elements of the pump.

Other objects will hereinafter appear. The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, of which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of -the pump partly in section; and Fig. 2 a

detail view illustrating means whereby fluid may be introduced into the inner tubes of thel expansible members, and into the space between the inner and outer tubes of each member. l

The pum-p comprises a pair of substantial- .ly frusto-conical barrels 1 and 2, which are spaced and axially aligned so that their base ends are adjacent eachother. The barrels 1 and 2 define, respectively, the pumped fluid chambers 3 and 4. The barrel` 1 has an intake valve 5, and an exhaust valve 6; the barrel 2, an intake valve 7 and exhaust valve 8.

The intake valves and 7 permit entrance into the barrels ofthe pumped fluid from the common intake pipe 9; and prevent the escape of pumped fluid from the barrels into said intake pipe. The exhaust valves 6 and 8 permit the expulsion of pumped Huid from the barrels into the common exhaust pipe 10; and

prevent the passage of uid -into the barrels rom said exhaust pipe.

Mounted within and co-extensive with the barrels 1 and 2 are the members 11 and 12, each comprising expansible inner and outer tubes, preferably made of rubber, s ced apart, co-extensive with each other, an normally cylindrical.

The inner and outer tubes of member 11 are indicated at 13 and 14. The inner tube'13 has on its outer end an external annularflange 13a; and the outer tube 14 has on its outer end an external annular flange 14-a. The flange 14--a is compressed by and held between the outer end of the barrel 1 and the ring 15; and the ange 13-a is compressed by and held between rm 15 and the head 16. The rlng 15 is steppe as shown, and is clam ed between the outer end of the barrel 1 an the head 16 bythe bolts 17, which are accessible from the exterior of the pump. The outer ends of tubes 13 and 14 are thereby held' spaced apart and securely connected and sealed simultaneously to the outer end wall of the pumped Huid chamber 3. Y

The inner ends of these tubes have inter nal annular flanges 13-b and 14--b. The ange 14-b is compressed by and held between the internal flange 1-a which defines an opening in the inner en of barrel 1) and the rin 18. The flange 13-a is com-V pressed by an held between the ring 18 and the flange 19-a of the sleeve clamp 19.` This clamp is keyed against rotation m the barrel, as shown. Threaded on the clam and bearing against the inner end of arrel 1 is a nut 20, which is accessible from the exterior of the pump. The inner ends of tubes 13 and 14 are thereby held spaced apart and securely connected and sealed sirbpultaneously to the inner end wall of cham- The inner and outer tubes of member 12 are indicated at 21 and 22, and have, respectively, on their inner ends external annular flanges 21--a and 22a; and, on their outer ends, internal annular lianges 21-25 and 22-b. The flange 22-b is compressed by and held between the ring 23 and the outer end wall of chamber 4. The flange 21--6 is compressed by and held between ring 23 and sleeve clamp 24 which extends through and is keyed in an opening in the outer end of barrel 2. Upon the outer end of clamp 24 is threaded a nut 25'bearing against the outer end of barrel 2, and accessible from the exterior of the pump. The `outer ends of tubes 21 and 22 are thereby spaced apart and securely connected and sealed simultaneously to the outer end wall of chamber 4.

The flange 22-a on the inner end of the outer tube 22 is compressed by and held between the stepped rin 26 and the internal annular iange 2-a, w ich defines an opening in the inner end of barrel 2. Flange 21.-a on the inner end of inner tube 21 is compressed by and held between the stepped ring 26 and the stepped ring 27. The ring 2 7 1s removably secured to the inner end of barrel 2 by bolts 28 accessible from the exterior of the pump; and the ring 26 is held therebetween.` The inner ends of tubes 21 and 22 are thereby spaced apart, and securely connected and sealed simultaneously to the inner end wall of chamber 4.

The piston 29 is disposed between and extends into the openings in the adjacent ends of the spaced barrels and the open inner ends of inner tubes 13 and 21. By-passing of luid about vthe piston from one mner tube to the other can not take place in view of the dispostion of the piston; and any leak- L age may readily be detected. Packing rings 30 and 31, therst of which is compressed between and held by nut 20 and nut 32 threaded thereon, and the lastvof which is compressed between and held by the gland 33 and ring 27, prevent the escape of Huid from the inner tubes about the piston. The gland 33 may be removably held on vring 27 by bolts 34.

The piston rod 35 is connected to the piston 29 and extends throughthe inner tube 21 and gland'36 outwardly to the conventional power means, not shown. The rod 35 is sealed by the packing 37 compressed by the gland 36.

Into the space between the inner and outer tube of each member, a spacing iiuid is introduced by any suitable means such, -for example, as that illustrated by Fig. 2, in

' which the ring 15 is provided with a duct 38 closed by a removable plug 39. Another duct, not shown, may be provided in the lower portion of the ring 15, so that the air in the space between the tubes may be expelled through one duct when spacing fluid 'f is forced into the other; and so that air may enter said space through one duct when spacing fluid is withdrawn therefrom through the other. Various other means will occur to those skilled in the art. p

The inner Itube of each member is illed yair as the actuatin with an actuating fluid through a suitable duct such as that shown at 39 in Fig. 2; and another duct, not shown, may be provided in the lower portion of the head 16 to ermitthe escape of air as the actuating uid enters the inner tube, and the entrance of fluid is withdrawn from the inner tube. T ese ducts may be closed by a removable lug 40. The inner tube 21 is filled when t e iston is in its forward position shown by t e drawings. The piston is then moved to the right, and inner tube 13 is then lilled.

The s acing fluid between the inner and outer tu es is preferably water, which is practically incompressible, so that when the inner tubes are expanded and contracted as hereinafter described, the outer tubes are also expanded and contracted, and the inner and outer tubes are held s aced apart. The outer tubes are subjecte rto the wearing action of the abrasive particles in the pumped fluid, and serve to revent puncturlng and wear of the inner tu es.

` The actuating fluid in the inner tubes is preferably soapy water, which will act as a lubricant for the piston, and will serve to cause a positive expansion and contraction of the inner tubes upon reciprocation of the piston.

Actuating fluid having been introduced into each inner tube, and spacing ilui'd into the space between each inner tube and its outer tube,'the operation of the pump is as follows: As shown by Fig. 1, when the piston 29 is in its forward position, the member 11 is expanded; the member 12, in its normal cylindrical shape. Now when the power means,

not shown, moves the piston on its return stroke, the member 12 is expanded by the actuating Huid displaced in the inner tube 21 by the piston, and the member 11 is contracted by the withdrawal of the piston from the inner tube 13. p Upon ex ansion of member 12, the inlet valve 7 is c osed; the outlet valve 8, opened, and the pumped fluid in chamber 4 is forced through the exhaust pipe 10. Meanwhile, the contraction4 of member 11 has closed the outlet valve 6, opened inlet valve 5, and drawn a fresh charge of pumped ilileiid3 through the inlet valve 5 into the cham.

A reverse operation occurs upon movement of the piston.r thev actuating fluid in the inner tube 13 and withdraws fluid from the inner tube 21. Consequent expansion of member 11 effects clo.

The piston displaces The alternate expansion and contraction of the members 11 and 12 upon reciprocation of the piston 29, is radial, and the lntake and exhaust ports are in the large or base ends of the barrels, so that there is suiicient clearance between the members and the walls of the barrels adjacent said ports. The members are, therefore, not forced into wearing contact with the chamber walls, and a free` circulation of luidto bepumped is insured.

The packing rings and 31 may readily be removed and replaced without disturbing the connect-ion of the tubes to the barrels. rThis may be accomplished by disconnecting rod from the power mea-ns, not shown, and moving the piston and rod to the left until 'the connected ends 29-a and 35-a thereof are disposed between the barrels. The rod 35 may then be screwed out of the piston 29, the nut. 32 and bolts 34 removed, and the packing rings 30 and 31 taken away from the pump. New packin rings may then be substituted for the pac ing rings removed and the other parts remounted.

The invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment disclosed. Various changes will occur to those skilled in the art, and may be made, within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a pump: a pumped fluid chamber; inlet and outlet meansassociated with said chamber; a hollow, expansible member in said chamber, said member having an inner and an outer tube; and means to cause expansion and contraction of said member to dra-w iiuid into said chamber through said inletmeans and to force it out of Vsaid chamber through said outlet means.

2. In a pump: a pumped fluid chamber; inlet and outlet means associated with said chamber; a hollow, expansible member in said chamber, said member having an outer tube and an inner tube in said outer tube and spaced therefrom; and mea-ns to cause expansion and contraction of said member to draw fluid intosaid chamber through said inlet means and to force itout of said chamber through said outlet means.

3. In a pump:-a pumped fluid chamber; inlet and outlet means associated with said chamber; a hollow, expansible member in said chamber, said member having a substantially cylindrical outer tube and a substantially cylindrical inner tube in said outer tube and spaced therefrom, the axes of said tubes being coincident; and means to cause expansion and contraction of said member to draw fluid into said chamber-through said inlet means and to force it'out of sai chamber through said outlet means.

4. In a pump: a pumped fluid chamber; inlet and outlet means associated with said chamber; a hollow, ex ansible member in said, chamber, said mem er having an inner and an outer tube; and a piston-movable in said inner tube to cause expansion and contraction of said member to draw iuid into said chamber through said inlet means and top-force it out of said chamber through said outlet means.

5. In a pump.: a'pumped fluid chamber;

inlet and outlet means associated with said chamber; a hollow, expansible member in said chamber, said member havin substantially y cylindrical inner and outer tu es; and a substantially cylindrical piston reciprocable in an inner tube within said outer tube and spaced therefrom, and a li uid filling the space between said tubes; an means to cause expansion and contraction of said member to drawl fluid into said chamber through said inlet means and to force it out of said chamber through said outlet means. 7. A pump having a pumped fluid chamber said chamber having end walls; inlet and outlet means associated with said chamber, a

hollow, expansible member in said chamber,

s`aid member having an inner tube and an outer tube; means to connect and seal the ends of said tubes to the end walls of said chamber; and means to cause expansion and contraction of said member to'draw fluid into said chamber through said inlet means` and to force it out of said chamber through said outlet means.

' 8. A pump having a pumped'iuid chamber, said chamber having end walls; inlet and outlet means associated with said chamber, a hollow, expansible member in said chamber,

outer tube; means accessible from the exterior of the pump to connect and seal the ends of said tubes to the end walls of said chamber; and means to cause expansion and contraction of said member to draw fluid into said chamber through said inlet means and to force it out of said chamber through said outlet means.

9. A pumping member comprising apair of IeXpansible tubes, one within the other.

l0. VA pumping member comprising a pair of expansible tubes, one within the other, and spaced apart.

11. A pumping member comprising a pair of expansible tubes, one within the other, and

yspaced apart, said tubes being substantially cylindrical, the axes of said tubes being substantially coincident. A

12. A pumping member comprising a pair llt) said member having an inner tube and an of expansible tubes, one within the other, said tubes having external annular anges at one end and internal annular flanges at the other.

18. A pumping member comprisinghollow, expansible, inner and outer tubes spaced apart, and a liquid filling the space between said tubes.

14. In a pump: a pair of spaced barrels a, hollow expansible member in each of sai' barrels, said member having an inner and an outer tube; a piston between said barrels and extending into the inner tubes of said mem.- bers; and removable packing means on the adjacent ends of said barrels and about said piston.

15. In a pump: a barrel having an openin therein, a hollow ex-pansible member in sai barrel; said member having an inner and an signature.

CHARLES D. STEPHENS.

outer tube; said inner tubehaving an e en end adjacent said opening in said barre a piston extending through said openin in said barrel and into the open end of sai inner tube; and removable means to connect and seal said open end of said inner tube to Y said barrel and to pack said piston, said means being accessible from the exterior of andan outer tube, the inner tube of each of said members having an open end adjacent the opening in its barrel: a piston between said barrels and extending through said removable means to connect and seal the adjacent ends of said tubes to said barrels, and

to pack said piston in said openings in saidv connect and seal the ends of said tubes to the end walls of said barrel.

18. A pump of the character described having a barrel, said barrel having end walls; an eXp-ansible member in said barrel, said member having an outer tube, and an inner tube within said outer tube; and means to connect and seal the ends of said tubes to the end walls of saidbarrel, said means being accessible from the exterior of said barrel.

19. A pump of the character described having a barrel, said barrel having end walls, an expansible member in said barrel, said member having an outer tube, and an inner tube within said outer tube; and means to simultaneously connect and seal the ends of said tubes to the end walls of said barrels, said openings in said barrels and into the open i 'ends of said inner tubes; and adjustable and IOL 

